Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The 18th and 19th centuries had their version of disco--and I think that might fit better than the term ballroom dancing. Yes, they danced in ballrooms. But, as Susan & I discovered at Colonial Williamsburg, they also danced wherever and whenever they could get someone to make music (a single flute was sufficient) and a group of people to step in time to the music. What makes it more like disco, I think, is that the man didn’t hold the woman around the waist. They barely held each other. They touched hands. For some moves, they hooked arms do-si-do style.

Our ancestors made do with a single flute or a pianoforte. With disco, a record or tape player was sufficient. But everybody dressed up for dancing. Men showed off their grace and elegance. And so I thought of Fred Astaire, naturally, but also John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

Styles change, but we can always appreciate a man who moves with grace.

7
comments:

Loretta, I recently read a book about Beau Nash and Bath. I guess the minuet was the big dance, back in the day. What really stunned me was the fact that one couple would perform at a time - in front of the entire assembly. If that's true, can you imagine the pressure?!

Thanks for this blog, Loretta and Susan. I'm really enjoying it (being a nerdy history girl at heart, myself). I thought I'd pass on another good dancing link. This is from the Library of Congress site and is the 1824 Dancing Manual of Thomas Wilson, Dancing Master of the King's Theatre: http://tinyurl.com/e36ffLots of dances in here.

Vanessa, think of all the steps! But we have to remember, they didn't have all the distractions we do today. Privileged people had plenty of time to memorize dance steps. Myretta, thank you so much for the link. I can't get enough of this stuff. Sue, I show my ignorance. I checked spelling of do-si-do but did not check meaning, thinking I was so smart. But you jogged my memory. We did learn a little square dancing in school--and I mixed up promenade with do-si-do. But this is why it's so great to communicate with others who care about such things!

Did you ladies see the gentleman with flute in his walking stick? He's an accomplished musician and a long-time employee in Colonial Williamsburg. He plays beautiful music at Her Ladyship's ball and for the stage players.

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A Polite Explanation

There’s a big difference in how we use history. But we’re equally nuts about it. To us, the everyday details of life in the past are things to talk about, ponder, make fun of -- much in the way normal people talk about their favorite reality show.

We talk about who’s wearing what and who’s sleeping with whom. We try to sort out rumor or myth from fact. We thought there must be at least three other people out there who think history’s fascinating and fun, too. This blog is for them.